Don't Get in a Hurry

Carol picked up Sophia from her after-school day care and headed home. Home being the house that was now in tatters. It seemed like a good idea last night. Clear it all out and do all the wiring at one time. It looked like a bomb hit it this morning.

The home improvement store had called her to tell her that they were at her house. An hour and a half early. She called Daryl and he had promised to handle it. I'm getting too comfortable depending on Daryl.

The drywall and insulation will have to be moved now. Before it gets damp. Daryl was getting something from work to move it, but it is going to be a long evening.

Daryl was standing in the driveway talking to two very large African-American men. Daryl looked dirty and tired and Carol felt guilty. I should have taken a half day today even if Eric being out has made us shorthanded.

The driveway was empty. No big truck and nothing to haul in. She parked her van in her back yard so that the truck would have room to maneuver. "They haven't gotten here yet?"

"Came and gone. We got the stuff put away. Thanks to Oscar and Tyreese."

Oscar was very tall and dignified. Tyreese was very tall and cuddly. They shook her hand carefully as if they were afraid that she might break easily. They worked with Daryl at the car dealership and had volunteered to help him because now Daryl was honor bound to help them when they needed him. Oscar seems particularly gleeful about that. Daryl looks trapped.

Oscar and Tyreese left with the odd assortment of tools that had enabled them to move everything via "dollies." Carol invited them and their wives to dinner "as soon as the house is put back together." Don't expect dinner any time soon.

Oscar had laughed, "That don't get ole Daryl off the hook. My wife is wanting me to renovate our kitchen." He gave Daryl a look and all three men did this fist bump thing. Male ritual behavior preparing them for the fight? Like cavemen preparing to go hunt the wooly mammoth.

They walked through the house. The drywall and insulation were stacked in the downstairs bedroom adding to the clutter and chaos. This house has fallen down and can't get up. I want to run away from home and join a circus.

Sophia sneezed and Carol sent her upstairs to change. Carol thanked Daryl again, "You've been a rock, Daryl. I do appreciate what you've done. As soon as we finish here then we start to work on your house." I now owe you a kidney, a lung, and whatever other part that you want.

Daryl looked uncomfortable, "Let's go out on the front porch. Now I got something to say and I don't want you to get in a hurry and jump to the wrong conclusion." He's quitting, he's done. I'm on my own now. Shit.

Daryl sat on the bannister and regarded her with serious eyes. "This house is all fucked up. You can't live in it like this. Sissy is already sneezing and the dust is going to be everywhere. I gotta idea. Came to me last night and you ain't going to like it. Here it is. You and Sissy move to my house until we get finished. We can work on your house and then walk to mine and have a place to eat and sleep close by. Then when we work on my house we just reverse it. I'll live in your house." Now I never saw that coming. This could never work. This is in Daryl's own parlance fucked up."

"Daryl, I can't see us living in the same house. Sophia and I are used to being on our own. You are used to being on your own. I'm not interested in being more than friends with you." That is much more polite than saying, "I'm not going to fuck you just because you gave me a place to live". Been there and done that.

Daryl blushed. "It ain't like that. I ain't doing this because I want to get laid. Don't think I am gonna put out for you either. My ass is too tired after work and renovating to do much of anything but take a shower and go to bed. Your virtue is safe with me." Greasy Rider blushed. My instincts are to trust him, but I need to talk to Eric about this. The part about me expecting him to put out is funny. Wonder what it would be like to live with a man who has a sense of humor?"

"Go back to your house and get cleaned up. We're going to go visit Eric and Aaron. I'll treat you to dinner and then we'll come back and get started on the house or the move. Is that alright with you?" I sound so bossy. Just because Ed bullied me doesn't mean I should treat Daryl that way.

"I want to go someplace nice. No fast food dinner in Styrofoam is gonna cut it today. I just sold my soul to Oscar and Tyreese and they are going to collect on the favor. So Miss Frosty, prepare to put out tonight. Not talking about sex. I want a steak and all the fixings. I'm getting used to eating good food. You still have to cook at my house. I'm mostly putting up with your bossy ass because you are such a good cook." Maybe this can work. Miss Frosty? I deserve that for sure. I like cooking for someone who appreciates good food. Daryl being all assertive? He isn't going to turn into my bitch. Found his balls and sending me back to the kitchen. Advantage, Daryl.

Carol laughed, "Get moving. I'll call Eric and tell him we're coming over earlier than I planned." What will Eric say?

Eric was shocked and dismayed. Of course, she waited until Aaron and Daryl went outside with Sophia to look at some tools that Aaron thought they might need. Carol had waited until then to talk to Eric about moving in with Daryl.

Daryl had come back to the house clean shaven, his hair brushed back off his face, and wearing blue jeans, a short sleeved sport shirt that showed off those toned arms, and clean boots. In short, he was dressed all wrong. He looked manly and desirable and she wanted him to look scruffy, unkempt, and undesirable. Shit, Eric is going to think that there is something going on and I'm being swept off my sensibly shoed feet by Daryl. That my celibate self is being overwhelmed by Daryl's testosterone and pheromones. He isn't going to believe that we are just friends/partners in home renovation.

Eric leaned toward her, "You can move in here with me and Aaron." I knew he would offer, but their house is thirty minutes away without traffic. It's further from work. And I don't want to live with two people as much in love as Eric and Aaron. I prefer messy mechanics with psycho girlfriends who want to kill me because they want Daryl for themselves."

"Daryl's house is so close. I promised him that I would help him to renovate his. I trust him." I do trust him. I am going to be cautious because of Sophia, but I do trust him.

"You check him out?" Eric asked leaning forward in his comfortable chair. Like he didn't teach me how to do that?

"I ran every computer check I could find and I made some calls to some police departments. Broke every rule in the book today. The older brother is in prison for meth distribution but Daryl has never been in jail. Been arrested for public intoxication a time or two. Nothing for years. The police chief in one little town told me that Daryl spent his time trying to keep Merle out of trouble." Daryl must have dropped the ball somewhere. That Merle is such a scamp.

Eric leaned back, "You two have some sort of weird chemistry. Like a magnet. You are both attracted and repelled. Maybe you're both afraid of the other. You're different. Different backgrounds and different personalities. One thing in common though. Both of you have been abused." I knew that in my heart. Daryl flinches when someone came too close. The brother bullied him but the real abuser was probably a parent, probably his father."

"He likes to keep people at a distance. I owe you everything Eric. You rescued me from Ed. You and Aaron gave me and Sophia a home until I could get on my feet. You got me a job at the police department. So do you think I should at least try this arrangement?"

Eric took her hand, "You know my story. You know why I can smell an abuser or a child molester when I meet them. Daryl has some anger problems but he isn't an abuser. He isn't interested in Sophia. He's attracted to you but he won't jump your bones in the middle of the night. Unless you wanted him to." That won't happen then. He went on to say, "Now get out there and get your boy toy away from Aaron. Daryl's cute underneath the grit and grime. I'll have Aaron bring me over this weekend. I want to see how the house is going and how you and Daryl are getting along." Wipe that smirk off your face, my friend, no bones are going to be jumped in the renovation of my house.

Carol kissed him on the forehead, "I love you, Eric."

Sophia seemed delighted that they were moving to Daryl's. I am moving us in with an almost total stranger and she is comfortable with it. I am a terrible mother.

Aaron came over later and helped Daryl move the beds and dressers from her house to Daryl's. Carol and Sophia moved the clothes and personal items. Carol was relieved that tis he laundry room at Daryl's was on the main floor. His basement is even scarier than mine.

She cleaned the kitchen while Sophia and Daryl watched television and ate popcorn. This is so weird. I woke up this morning in reno hell and now we're living with Daryl and it doesn't feel weird. That is what is so weird. Shouldn't I be freaking out? Instead of mopping the floor?

Carol finished the kitchen, "Sophia, it's your bedtime." Because we are in an alternate universe and we are a happy sitcom family.

Sophia tapped Daryl on the head, "Goodnight, Daryl". She kissed her mother, "Goodnight, Mom." Aren't we supposed to have an adorable dog who will scamper up the steps after you as Daryl and I smile lovingly at each other and you and little Muffin?

Carol sat on the couch in the living room. Daryl was sprawled in an ancient leather recliner. It was the first time she had actually looked at the television. The screen was curved, the colors and resolution were amazing. "Wow". Wow? I've seen your SAT scores in language. Did you cheat?

"It's an oled TV. Bought it for my birthday. Never had anything nice when I was growing up and this is the nicest place I've ever lived. I was working at the car dealership making good money. Just wanted something special." There went the alternate universe. Way to bring me back to reality, Daryl. We were going to eat ice cream and make innuendo laden remarks to each other.

Carol almost unwillingly saw the boy who still resides in Daryl. A boy who bought himself this television because no one remembered his birthday. A boy who had been hit more than he had been hugged. A boy who yearned for "nice" things and must have been lonely without his brother. "This house will be beautiful when we get finished. Maybe you and your brother could stay here. Enjoy this television and he can get a job here." Let's go for a happy ending. You are never supposed to mix misery and comedy. This isn't HBO, mister. This is an alternate universe station and it's on basic cable. No extra charge.

Daryl turned off the television, "Why do you want to move to a farm?" Good question, Daryl. I'll try to give you the short version. Mood killer by the way.

"My parents were both married to the wrong people, got a divorce, were single for a long time, and then got married in their thirties. I was their only child. They were teachers, Dad taught math and Mom taught history. We lived on a small farm. We had chickens, cows, pigs, and horses. I had a happy childhood. I want that life for me and Sophia." Yep, that was me. I had a nice house, loving parents, and I still managed to totally fuck up my life."

"How did you wind up here?" He's asking you what you asked yourself a hundred times. How did happy little Carol wind up in the emergency room on a regular basis? How did you lose yourself when you married Ed? He isn't going to judge you. He'll understand."

"Just finished my second year of college. Computer studies at Georgia Tech. Mom and Dad were driving to a farm auction. A deer ran out in front of a car. The car swerved and hit mom and dad. I was lost without them. Went into some sort of depression and there was this nice young man from the bank that kept coming out to the farm to help me." Enough of that. No more walks down Memory Lane. That Carol is gone and Ed so is Ed.

"Merle can't be in a city. He is a drug addict. We like to fish and hunt. Be outdoors. We can fix anything with a motor. We can start our own garage. He can start over. We'll be okay there." He might be your brother, Daryl, but he isn't good for you. Don't let him drag you down. Don't know where that came from. I must be watching too much television.

"I'll work on the wiring tomorrow and you can demo the upstairs. Aaron is going to haul everything off on Saturday." Back to bossy Carol.

Daryl rolled his eyes, "Okay. Once we finish the wiring we get Axel over here and we can start the drywall. I can't work Saturday. It's my day to visit Merle." Sure skip out of work to go visit your only relative. Next, you'll want rest room breaks.

Sophia was asleep when Carol went into check on her. Carol slipped in beside her. Too much talk of the past and she needed the comfort of having Sophia close by. It just wasn't a night to sleep alone.

AN

Advantage, Daryl? Don't know if you play tennis. Daryl just scored a point and he can win on the next serve. He won't of course because this is a Carol chapter and Daryl doesn't have the kill instinct.

So can alternate universe Carol and Daryl find happiness? Can they move to HBO and have rampant hot sex (as soon as an HBO writer sends me that chapter)? Will Muffin ever come home? Will Sophia bring them together because you know smart girls are the best matchmakers?

I was researching oled tvs. Might as well combine my random internet searches with fan fiction writing. I did think Daryl buying his own birthday present was poignant (and expensive. Like two thousand dollars worth of poignancy from Best Buy).

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